No QB decision yet, but Nathaniel Hackett raves about backup Brett Rypien
Dec 14, 2022, 12:31 PM
Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett didn’t give much of a Russell Wilson update on Wednesday.
Hackett says Wilson is still in the concussion protocol after taking a nasty hit on a scrambling play agains the Chiefs. Hackett wasn’t willing to say one way or another if Wilson will play against the Cardinals this Sunday, repeating multiple times the situation is “day by day.”
If Wilson can’t go, it will be backup QB Brett Rypien making his second start of the year and appearing in his third game in 2022. Rypien relieved Wilson on Sunday against Kansas City near the goal-line after the concussion. It took him a few plays, but he eventually found Jerry Jeudy in the end zone to make the game 34-28. It was the wide receiver’s third touchdown of the day.
Hackett was asked about Rypien’s performance and his comfort level if the team has to start him against Arizona. The head coach raved about Rypien, a guy who has one touchdown pass this season and three in his NFL career.
“Even just watching the (film) when he comes in there, and we call a pass right out of the gate and he makes a smart decision by throwing it out of bounds. Then he comes back in a fourth-and-seven situation and that was a dime. That was an unbelievable throw. We talk about tight windows in that area, throwing it over a linebacker and delivering it to Jerry. That is one of the hardest things to do in that situation. So, I thought that was great by him,” Hackett said.
Hackett, always relentlessly positive, is of course going to praise Rypien. But it’s not like the Broncos will be trotting a quarterback out there with Super Bowl experience if Wilson can’t go. That’s not Rypien’s fault, but it is the reality of the situation.
As far as where Rypien needs to be better, Hackett didn’t have much in that department.
“From an improvement (standpoint), let’s get him out in practice and let’s get him back in the groove so that he can go out there and execute. He did a good job with the Jets. There’s things that he can correct and he knows that and we’ll see where he goes,” Hackett said.
In Rypien’s start against the Jets this year he went 24-46 for 225 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception. Denver lost 16-9.
Broncos Country might not be thrilled if Rypien has to start on Sunday, but the coach would be ready to ride. We’ll see how that works out against a Cardinals team that might be just as bad as Denver.
***
